"Parents based in the northern part of London wants to find an extraordinary and skilled educator to support their smallest child on his early path to growing into an English gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might readily miss the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it might be the most important element of this distinctive position posting, as it aims to hire a mentor for a 12-month-old.
Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the unnamed family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "an exceptional individual".
During the past few weeks, the advert has gained attention across the media, with numerous wondering why?
Forward-Thinking Method
The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their quest, stated that in spite of first skepticism, he viewed the plan "forward-looking", and "advanced".
When he consulted the family, he noted they recognized the unconventional nature of their request, and how young their son is.
Nevertheless, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural bias had already become established".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam replied. "The way you eat, the way you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, unspoken signals" from the family, and had assumed their cultural norms. The family informed him they wished to avoid history to repeat itself with their younger child.
The strategy: To hire a British tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's by means of this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the English characteristics they aim to instil.
The consultant said the tutor had to be an individual who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator must be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he commented.
Money No Object
The family explained to the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or passion in riding, alpine skiing, artistic pursuits and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Furthermore though, he stated the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "horseback riding and learning an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son grow into a "English gentleman" will result in accomplishment and provide access.
"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's undoubtedly a status symbol," he comments.
However, in spite of all this tutelage in "UK identity", might the child pick up what is termed cultural leaning from the multicultural family he resides with in any case?
"Absolutely", replied Adam. "The parents know this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the education sector who express these concerns.
Peter Cui, chief executive of Blue Education, who provides private tutors, commented that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
Peter noted that he had moved from the Far East to the Britain at the age of seven, and had been raised understanding and living two backgrounds. He progressed to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can function as a representation of Britishness, a person who can in some way impart the qualities of a British gentleman upon a 12-month-old child, appears idealistic and impractical," he wrote.
"In my experience, employing a distinctly British tutor from infancy will will not automatically create the outcome they want.
"I wasn't provided with such a tutor, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to experience several of the situations they desire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, cultural identity should not be forced from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Purchasing UK Culture
Naturally, English culture is something the expert thinks can be instructed – and commercialized.
"In my view the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
